I’m angry and disappointed at Westminster, says Scottish Labour leader in attack on Starmer
Anas Sarwar stated that votes for the Labor Party in Scotland do not mean votes for Sir Keir Starmer, and said that he was “angry and disappointed” about Westminster politics.
The Scottish Labor leader, who called on the prime minister to resign in February, said the upcoming Holyrood election was “the first opportunity to change the government in Scotland in 20 years”.
“This is about protest or some kind of free kick, not an inconclusive election,” he warned.
The development comes as discontent with Sir Keir’s leadership of the party is growing and questions are mounting about the government’s direction, just days before local elections across the UK are expected to deliver a brutal result for Labour.
Meanwhile, the Holyrood elections in Scotland are expected to bring victory to the SNP once again; Labor and Reform are struggling in second place.
While it didn’t look long ago that Mr Sarwar’s party would take power at Holyrood after a landslide in the 2024 general election, Labour’s first two years in office have crushed its support in Scotland.
Don’t write IndependentThe party’s Scottish leader has sought to distance himself from Labour’s disastrous record in Westminster as part of a bid to claw back some support at Holyrood.
“The SNP want this election to be about Scotland or anything other than their record. Instead they want to point the finger at Westminster. I understand people are angry and disappointed about Westminster and Holyrood, and so am I,” Mr Sarwar wrote.
“A vote for me and Scottish Labor on Thursday is not an endorsement of Keir Starmer and will not be used in isolation. It is for replacing the first minister.
“Their vote is about passing judgment on the SNP for nearly 20 years, not on a government that has been in power for 2 years.
“This is about protest or some kind of free kick, not an inconclusive election. This is about our schools, our hospitals and getting change in Scotland.”
He added: “If you want to reject the poison of Reformation, defeat the SNP and change Scotland, there is only one way to do it and that is Scottish Labour.
“Not because of the slogans, but because of the reality of how elections are won in Scotland. Only Scottish Labor can replace the SNP in key constituencies.
“Only Scottish Labor can form a serious alternative government. Only Scottish Labor can turn disappointment into something better.”
In February, Mr Sarwar called on the prime minister to resign, saying “too many mistakes” had been made from No 10, adding: “The distraction needs to end and the leadership in Downing Street needs to change.”
His latest intervention comes amid reports that the prime minister is facing a plot by Labor MPs to sack him following what are expected to be disastrous local election results.
Backbenchers who won their seats in the 2024 election are reportedly planning to press for the prime minister’s resignation with an open letter reminiscent of the run-on letter sent to Sir Tony Blair 20 years ago.
Accordingly TimesMPs will hold Sir Keir responsible for the results of this week’s local elections and ask him to set a date for his departure.
The newspaper reported that some cabinet ministers were aware of the plot, but none joined the limited number of potential signatories.
Housing minister Steve Reed told Sky News on Tuesday that MPs “want this psychodrama to stop” and warned the party against being “led into disaster through leaders”.
